Image: Centre Pompidou / Public Domain
View source →The Muse
Pablo Picasso, 1935
Technical Details
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
130 × 162 cm (51.2 × 63.8 in)
Style
Surrealism
Decade
1930s
About This Work
The Muse depicts two female figures — one sleeping, one drawing — in a dreamlike interior. The sleeping figure is Marie-Thérèse Walter; the drawing figure may be a self-portrait of Picasso in female form. The painting explores themes of artistic creation, the relationship between artist and model, and the unconscious sources of inspiration. It is one of the most complex and psychologically rich works of Picasso's Surrealist period.
Painted in January 1935, The Muse belongs to the period of Picasso's greatest personal turmoil — he was separating from his wife Olga, his relationship with Marie-Thérèse was secret, and he was about to become a father for the second time. The painting can be read as an allegory of the creative process under pressure.
Current Location
Musée National d'Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Public Collection — Open to visitors
Visit museum website →Valuation & Provenance
2026 Estimated Value
$40–60 million (est.)
* Estimates are based on comparable auction results and market analysis. Not a formal appraisal.
Last Known Sale
No public auction record — held in permanent museum collection
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